What causes acne? There are a million reasons- over-exfoliation, clogged pores, hormones, stress, and dirty pillowcases to name a few. The only thing more difficult than figuring out what caused your acne is how to treat it, as there are many options available. You know all about salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and tea tree oil, so let’s talk about one that’s been around forever that you may not know about, that just might change your life- azelaic acid.

What is azelaic acid?

Azelaic acid is a dicarboxylic acid derived from grains. Azelaic acid is antibacterial (kills bacteria), comedolytic (inhibits the formation of comedones), and keratolytic (softens keratin), making it a miracle worker that deserves all the praise. What this acid does is decrease the amount of fatty acid found in skin, which makes it hard for bacteria and fungus to grow.